As Sen. Charlie Shields said, the Missouri Senate is “rapidly” moving “into the ’90s.” Today, a Senate rules committee approved a resolution that would allow Missouri senators to use laptops on the floor of the Senate.

Currently, the rules prohibit the use of computers in the Senate except for by the press and Senate research. But with more and more senators using Blackberries and other handheld devices that operate much like a computer, some senators, including Shields, would like to see laptops on the floor.

But despite Shields’ support, the resolution could face an uphill battle. It passed the Rules committee only after Shields urged senators to allow it to get to the floor for debate. In the committee, Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, Sen. Norma Champion, R-Springfield, and Sen. Joan Bray, D-University City, all said they opposed the use of laptops on the floor.

“I personally don’t want computers in the chamber,” Bray said.

Nodler was even tougher. “I don’t like them under any circumstances,” he said.

Majority Floor Leader Kevin Engler, R-Farmington, said he didn’t care one way or another. At one point in the hearing, he suggested a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, earning a chuckle or two from his fellow senators.

If approved, the measure could create incentive to have more senators on the floor during debate. That could also be one reason why Democrats, the minority party, would oppose the move, hoping to occasionally catch the majority party lacking votes to block amendments or procedural moves.